Lath.



G. P. ORUMBAUGH. LATH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1913.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

\ULLMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu. WASHINGTON. n. u.

UNITED sTA'rns GEORGE P. CRUMBAUGH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0FONE-HALF TO EDWIN W. GROVE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 704,220.

To all whom it may-concern Be it known that I, GEORGE P. CRUD/{- BAUGH,a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State ofMissouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Laths, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lath, wall covering or key base adapted toreplace the ordinary wood lath and plaster covering for walls andembodies the formation of a number of air cells and elongated grooves orchannels arranged in alternation to provide a novel form of key base forwalls to receive and positively hold a plaster covering of any desirednature. The members of the improved lath, wall covering or key base areheld in desired relative positions by wires threaded therethrough atintervals in planes at an angle to the grooves or channels. The elementsor members of the improved lath, wall covering or key base compriseessentially a series of corrugated strips reinforced by layers orlaminae in superimposed relation and secured to each other, the severalelements or members being disposed in edgewise relation to each other sothat the edges will be exposed to receive a plaster covering, theelements, members or components providing exposed openings into whichthe plaster covering is forced or pressed when applied, and betweenthese exposed openings the longitudinal channels or grooves are locatedand also receive the plaster covering, said channels or grooves causingribs to be formed at regular intervals at the rear portion of theplaster covering which operate to'sustain the latter in adheringassociation with the lath or key base. The plaster is also secured inand around the wires threaded through the lath, and after the latter issecured in applied position to the studding, the plaster covering willbe maintained in place though the material of which the. lath or keybase is composed may rot away.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a wallsupport illustrated as being partially covered by the improved lath,wall covering or key base embodying the features of the invention; Fig.2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of one of the laths or keybase devlces; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in the planeof the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

The numeral 5 designates studding of the usual form or any othersupporting means that may be embodied in a wall structure, and theimproved lath, wall covering or key base essentially comprises acellular member 6 and a channeled or grooved member 7, parts of whichcontribute to the formation of each other, or a portion of the saidgroove 7 being comprised in the formation of the member 6, the members 6and 7 being arranged in alternation and providing exteriorly exposedopenings in regular sequence, so that the lath as a whole is cellular.To maintain the members 6 and 7 in their desired position relatively toeach other, wires 8 are threaded therethrough and bent to follow thevarious angles of the said members, as clearly shown by Fig. 3. .Theimproved lath, key base or wall covering as thus constructed is made insuitable lengths and widths and applied to the studding 5 in,such manneras to produce break joints or to have the joints at the ends ofcontiguous laths or key bases come over an intermediate portion of anadjacent lath, and after the laths or key bases are thus arranged, theyare preferably secured to the studding or other supporting devices 5 bymetal strips 9 which are nailed over the laths or key bases at intervalsand cover the joints between the contiguous ends of the latter. Aplaster covering is applied to the laths as thus constructed in themanner shown by Fig. 3 at 10, the plaster being pressed into the exposedopenings of the cells and also into the channels or grooves 7 and in andaround the exposed portions of the wires 8 to thereby produce amultiplicity of keys or securing means for the plaster covering toprevent the latter from readily separating or falling away from theimproved lath or key base. The plaster is pressed into the channels orgrooves 7 to produce ribs, as at 11, which extend longitudinally overthe plaster covering as an entirety and not only reinforce or strengthenthe plaster covering, but operate as a holding means for the saidplaster covering, though the material of which the improved lath or keybase is formed may rot away or become destroyed, and in which case thewires 8 will remainintact and with the ribs 11 of plasterwill-preserve awall of a firm and reliable character, particularly after the metalsecuring stripsf) have been applied over the laths or key bases in themanner hereinbefore specified.

Specifically the members 6 consist of corrugated strips 12 of suitablematerial secured to straight strips 13 by any suitable waterproof cementor glue, and secured thereto are intermediately bent angular strips orconnectors 14 arranged in reverse positions so as to alternately open atthe front and back of the lath or key base, the strips 14 beingadditional to the strips 13 in the production of a portion of theconnectors and the strips 13 being continuous or intermediately bent toproduce the remaining portion of the connectors. The connectors 14provide means for positively securing the members in associatedrelation, the said members following the angular position of the maincomponents of the connectors, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, and the wires8 are threaded through the members and bent in curved planes at thefront and rear over the angles of the connectors, as shown by Fig. 3. Byhaving the members with their exposed openings alternately projectedupwardly and downwardly at the front or exposed side of the completelath or key base covering, it will be seen that the plaster whichispressed into the openings will be locked or keyed at correspondingangles and will resist weight strain and displacement in-all directions,and any tendency to cracking or checking will be reduced to a minimumand, in fact, will be absolutely prevented. It will also be seen A 7that the components orelements of the membersare arranged in sidewiserelation and likewise the channeled or grooved members are similarlydisposed relatively the members with material advantage in resistingweight strain and in producing a uniformly strong covering for a wallupon which to apply the plaster. The plaster may be applied either as asingle finishing coating to the improved lath or key base covering, or aconcrete plaster may be first applied and then a finishing coatingafterward disposed on the concrete plaster. After the laths have beenmade in suitable lengths as may be determined, they are dipped or coatedwith a waterproofing varnish or other material which also adds to thestrength of the laths, and furthermore, the laths may be treated withany well known fireproofing material.

The improved lath will be found exceptionally advantageous in its useupon board partitions for receiving plaster where it is impracticable toapply the ordinary laths,

and furthermore, in reduced spaces or corners of closets and hallways ofirregular form where it'is frequentlyimpracticable to apply the-ordinarylath, the improved lath will be found readily applicable and efficientin its serviceas a positive holding means for a plaster coating. It isalso proposed to use the improved lath on rounded corners and as aplaster support on composite pillars or columns, and it will beunderstood that changes in the proportions, dimensions and minor detailsmay be resorted to to accommodate such applications. Furthermore, thecorrugations may be varied as to their dimensions and the materialemployed in making the lath may be either paper, stiffened cloth or acombination of paper and wood strips, or any other materialapplicablefor the purpose.

What is claimed is z- 1. A lath or key base comprising distinct pairs ofcorrugated members, the two members'of each pair being arranged atangles to each other and having side edges thereof exposed to formmargins or distinct openings, and channelmembers forming unbrokenlongitudinal grooves and disposed between and in alternaterelation witheach of the corrugated members to receive the plaster covering. 7

2. A lath or key base comprising distinct pairs of corrugated members,the two members of each pair being atangles to each other and formingopenings ,therebetween, and angular connectors arranged in alter nationwith each of the corrugated members and providing straight unbrokenchannels between the said members for receiving 'portions of aplastercovering.

3. A lath or key baseco'mprising distinct pairs of corrugated members,the two mem bers of each pair beingdisposed atan angle to each other andhaving a plurality of opena ings produced therebetween and exposed atthe edges thereofrand channeled members arranged in alternationrelatively with each of the corrugated members and havingunbrokenstraight channels of V-formbetween the said corrugated membersfor receiving portions of a plaster covering.

4. A lath or 'key'base comprising alternately arrangedcorrugated andchanneled members, the corrugated membersbeing disposed in pairs atangles relatively to each other to provide alternate downwardly andupwardly exposedopenings, and the channeled members also disposed at anangle relatively toeach other and alternately opening to the front andto the rear and serving as connectors for the -corrugated members. r p5. 'A lath or key base comprising alternately arranged corrugated andchanneled members, the corrugated members being dis- In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand 1n presence of two subscribing wltl0nesses".

GEORGE P. CRUMBAUGH.

Witnesses:

H. H. MOCULLY, F. N. HAMMERS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommlusioner of Patent. Washington, D. G.

